Babies go through considerable changes from birth to 12 months. From the start, they are learning how to communicate, make eye contact and recognize your voice. Your baby’s physical development can be rapid. Providing your baby with loving attention and introducing them to new things will help their growth and development.

Babies go through incredible physical changes in a short time. Here's what you can expect in terms of growth and development during the first year.

• Physical growth in newborns
• Growth and development, newborn
• Sensory and motor growth in newborns
• Growth and development milestones
• Children's growth chart
• Importance of tummy time for babies' development

Your baby will begin teething around 6 months of age. In this section, learn more about common teething concerns and products.

• Tooth development in children
• Teething: Common concerns
• Reducing biting in children ages 8 to 14 months
• Reducing biting in teething babies
• Teething products

Your baby starts to communicate with you immediately. In their own way, they ask for social interaction with others. Your baby will benefit from the protection, support and attention you provide. Learn more about social and emotional development.

• Emotional and social growth in newborns
• Babies social and emotional development

Cognitive development refers to the way your baby learns to think, gather and organize information, solve problems and develop judgment. Showing your baby new and interesting things can help their cognitive development.

• Cognitive growth in newborns
• Helping your newborn learn
• Cognitive development, ages 1-12 months
• Cognitive development from 12-24 months
• Stimulate your baby's learning

Your baby begins to learn language skills almost immediately. Around 6 to 9 months of age, most babies begin to make the link between sound and meaning. By 12 months, they may have mastered a few words and usually understand far more.

• Language development in newborns
• Speech and language milestones, birth to 1 year.

The Canadian Pediatric Society provides advice on screen time and preschool children. Limiting screen time for young children supports optimal and healthy development. Parents and caregivers can use the Four M's of Screen Time as guidance to support the use of digital media in positive and safer ways: 

• Minimize screen time for young children, with evidence suggesting that children under two should not have any screen time outside of video chatting with loved ones
• Mitigate the risks by being present and engaged when screens are used, whenever possible, and curating the types of media children use
• Be Mindful about the use of screen time and remember that too much screen time means lost opportunities for play and connection. Develop a family plan for screen time
• Model healthy screen use by turning off devices during family time, both at and away from home